SOLUTION: a^1/2 ______ a^2 can you write out the steps? im really confused on what to do for simplifying radicals with just variables.

Question 920815: a^1/2
______
a^2
can you write out the steps? im really confused on what to do for simplifying radicals with just variables.
Answer by rothauserc(4718) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
look at it this way a^2 = a(1/2)*a(1/2)*a(1/2)*a(1/2)
when you multiply, you add exponents of like variables, therefore
a^(1/2) / (a(1/2)*a(1/2)*a(1/2)*a(1/2)) = 1/ a^(3/2)
we were able to cancel one a^(1/2) from numerator and denominator

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